GB2439096A

GB2439096A - Light signalling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2439096A
Application number: GB0612054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Tabor
Original assignee: TRAFFIC SYSTEMS CO OPERATIVE L
Current assignee: TRAFFIC SYSTEMS CO OPERATIVE L
Priority date: 2006-06-17
Filing date: 2006-06-17
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-17
Also published as: GB2439096B; GB0612054D0

Abstract

A traffic light signalling apparatus which is accessible from the rear for general maintenance such as the replacement of the light source. The apparatus comprises a housing 106 for a plurality of lamps 102 which are viewable, to oncoming traffic, from the front of the apparatus. An opening 202 in the rear of the housing 106 allows access to the inner apparatus, a lamp 102 and its associated lamp holder 201 may be removed through the opening 202, the lamp holder 201 comprising a connector which disconnects the power supply to the lamp when the lamp holder 201 is removed. Also disclosed is a method of performing maintenance tasks on the assembly from the rear of the housing so that the front face of the apparatus is not obscured to oncoming traffic.

Description

Light Signalling Apparatus

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to light signalling apparatus. Traditionally, light signalling apparatus such as traffic lights, pedestrian crossing lights etc are maintained by accessing their internal workings through the front (light emitting) face. This has various implications in terms of safety. Maintenance personnel are forced to work with their backs to oncoming traffic, and their presence often obstructs the view of the traffic signals to drivers and other 1 0 road users. Furthermore, in traditional systems, maintenance such as changing the lamps often occurs on a live system, which means there is a risk of the maintenance personnel suffering from an electric shock. Given that much of such maintenance is performed relatively high from the ground, these risks are significant on a day-to-day basis.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided light signalling apparatus for the control of road vehicles, comprising: a housing for a plurality of lamps, wherein said lamps are configured to be viewable to on-coming traffic, so as to signal commands to said traffic, by emitting light from a front face of said housing; lamp removal means arranged to facilitate the removal and replacement of one or more of said plurality of lamps from behind said front face such that, during said removal, said front face of said apparatus is not obscured to oncoming traffic.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an example of light signalling apparatus for the control of road vehicles; Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-section through housing portion 106; Figure 3 shows a housing portion with a rear door removed; Figure 4 shows detail of door 202; Figure 5 shows an exploded view of parts of the assembly shown in Figure 2; and Figure 6 shows the assembly in Figure 5 from above, and further exploded.

Written Description of the Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Figure 1 Figure 1 shows an example of light signalling apparatus for the control of road vehicles. There is provided a housing 101 for a plurality of lamps such as lamp 102, lamp 103 and lamp 104. The light signalling apparatus is configured such that lamps 102 to 104 are viewable to oncoming traffic. Lamps 102 to 104 emit light from a front face of housing 101 to signal commands to oncoming traffic. In the present embodiment, housing 101 is mounted onto pole 105 at its rear face. Housing 101 is divided into three sections. Housing portion 106 includes lamp 102, housing portion 107 includes lamp 103, and housing portion 108 includes lamp 104.

Figure 2 Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-section through housing portion 106, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lamp 102 is shown mounted in a lamp holder 201. A door 202 is provided at the rear of housing portion 106. Door 202 is further described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

Lamp holder 201 is further described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

When access is required, for example to replace lamp 102 or to conduct other maintenance, door 202 can be removed from the rear of housing portion 106. Once door 202 has been removed, lamp holder 201 can be removed through the opening left by the absence of door 202. In alternative embodiments, door 202 is hinged such that it is opened rather than being completely removed from housing portion 106. Lamp 102 remains attached to lamp holder 201 and thus also exits housing portion 106. Upon removal of lamp holder 201 from housing portion 106, the power supply necessary to light lamp 102 disconnects. This is further described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, and this disconnection upon disengagement significantly increases safety for the maintenance personnel. In the present embodiment, maintenance is also possible through the front face of housing portion 106, in case of situations whereby maintenance, for what ever reason, cannot be conducted through door 202.

A reflector 203 is shown which has a hole to receive lamp holder 201, and through which lamp 102 can be removed.

Figure 3 Figure 3 shows a housing portion such as portion 106 in accordance with the present invention, with a rear door such as door 202 removed. In the present embodiment, rear door 202 is removed by operation with an allen key.

In a preferred embodiment, housing portion 106 is identical in construction to housing portions 107 and 108, and the three portions fit together to form housing 101.

Figure 4 Detail of door 202 is shown in Figure 4. Door 202 has a back plate 401, an inner rim 402 and protrusions 403 and 404. When door 202 is fitted into housing portion 106 it must be aligned such that protrusions 403 and 404 fit into corresponding receiving slots. Door 202 is then rotated, in a preferred embodiment by a quarter turn, such that it is held into housing 106 by protrusions 403 and 404 gripping behind a lip inside housing portion 106. In alternative embodiments, different arrangements of protrusions, or a completely different locking mechanism would be used. In a preferred embodiment, door 202 is then locked in position by use of an allen key.

Figure 5 Figure 5 shows an exploded view of parts of the assembly shown in Figure 2. The rear of reflector 203 can be seen, and lamp holder 201 is shown here in more detail. Figure 5 shows the assembly without the lamp fitted. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp used is a halogen lamp. Figure 5 illustrates how lamp holder 201 fits into reflector 203. The components which make up lamp holder 201 and the mechanism by which it fits into the back of reflector 203 is further described with reference to Figure 6 below.

Figure 6 Figure 6 shows the assembly in Figure 5 from above, and further exploded. It can be seen in Figure 6 that lamp holder 201 comprises four components. These components are lamp holder grip 601, clips 602 and 603, and lamp socket 604. Two further clips 605 and 606 fit into the rear of reflector 203.

In the present embodiment, apparatus is configured such that clips 602 and 603 fit onto the outer surface of socket 604. Furthermore, clips 605 and 606 fit into the internal surface of a receiving portion 607 attached to reflector 203. Clips 602, 603, 605, 606 thereby form a connector. This means that when lamp holder 201 is engaged in reflector 203, clip 602 connects with clip 605 and clip 603 connects with clip 606, and an electrical connection is established, in this engaged state. When lamp holder 201 (and lamp 102 there connected) is removed from reflector 203, disengagement occurs and therefore the electrical supply is cut off.

Because the electrical supply is disconnected when the connector is disengaged, the potential danger of maintenance personnel working on a live system is removed. This combined with the ability of personnel to work from behind the light signalling apparatus means a significant increase in safety.

Claims

Claims 1. Light signalling apparatus for the control of road vehicles,

corn prising: a housing for a plurality of lamps, wherein said lamps are configured to be viewable to on-coming traffic, so as to signal commands to said traffic, by emitting light from a front face of said housing; lamp removal means arranged to facilitate the removal and replacement of one or more of said plurality of lamps from behind said front face such that, during said removal, said front face of said apparatus is not obscured to oncoming traffic.

2. Light signalling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lamp removal means includes an opening in a rear face of said housing.

3. Light signalling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said lamp removal means includes at least one lamp holder which supports one of said lamps, configured to be removable from said housing through said opening.

4. Light signalling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lamp holder includes a connector, whereby when said connector is in an engaged state it supplies power to said lamp, and when said connector is in a disengaged state it does not supply power to said lamp.

5. Light signalling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said disengaged state occurs when said lamp holder is removed from said housing.

6. A method of performing maintenance tasks on light signalling apparatus for the control of road vehicles, comprising accessing said light signalling apparatus from behind such that a plurality of lamps contained within said light signalling apparatus and configured to be viewable to on-coming traffic are not obscured.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of accessing internal workings of said light signalling apparatus through an opening in a rear face of said light signalling apparatus.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising removing a lamp from said light signalling apparatus through said rear opening in said light signalling apparatus.

9. Light signalling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.

10. A method of performing maintenance tasks on light signalling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.